Plant blocker



Sept. 5, 1950 R, wlLTglN 2,521,109

PLANT BLOCKER r Filed 001;. 25, 1945 C ME ra INVENToR.

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ATI'DRN EYS Patented Sept. 5, 1950 TATES PATENT ICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to agricultural machines, and has among itsobjc-cts and advantages the provision of an improved plant `blocker.

In conventional plant blockers or choppers, it is common practice toemploy two disks arranged in converging relationship. The disks arearranged with their convexed sides face to tace. When cultivating, suchcooperating disks do not contact at the proper depth in the soil, whichresults in the formation of a ridge between the disks. Plants aligned inthe ridge remain uncut. Running the disks deeper to avoid this objectionresults in deep furrows on both sides of the Iplants far below the rootsthereM of, with the result that the plants will not survive such rootexposure.

Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide a plant blockerwherein soil cultivating disks are formed and arranged in a novel manuner to perform an efficient blocking function, in addition toeiiectively cultivating the soil simultaneously with the plant thinningoperation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a plant blocker in accordance with myinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one gang of disks.

Figure 3 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 3 -3 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view of a mount for cleaner tines.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make useof two disk gangs i9, these gangs being identical in construction, eachpreferably comprising three disks i2. The disks l2 in each gang arearranged in the same order, but the disks of one gang are reversed withrespect to the disks of the other gang. Each disk is provided with fournotches I4 intersecting its cutting edge iii. These notches are equallyspaced circumierentially of the disks. A greater number of notchesdecreases the blocking interval, while fewer notches increases theinterval.

Each gang of disks is xed to a shaft I8 rotatably supported in bearings29 bolted at 22 to the vertical bars 24 of L-shaped frame members 26.The horizontal legs 23 of the members 26 lie within a channel 3l! andare bolted thereto, as at 32, these bolts extending through slots 33 inthe legs 28 so that the members 28 may be adjusted to proper relativepositions.

An upright shaft 34 is welded to each channel 3l), which shafts aredisposed in bearings 36 at the outer ends of a horizontal bar 38. Setscrews 40 xedly relate the shafts 34 to the bearings, although theshafts may be rotated in the bearings when the set screws are loosenedso that the disk gangs i9 may be adjusted to various angles. A drawmember 42 is xed to the bar 39, as well as a seat 44.

Upon the channels 3! are mounted curved tines 45, which bend downwardlyand upwardly between the disks i2 to prevent dirt clods, weeds and thelike from accumulating between the disks. The upper ends of the tinesextend through openings 48 in U-shaped clips 59 and underneath the legs28. Set screws 52 are threaded through the bights of the clips and haveend engagement with the channels 39 to clamp the tines to the legs.

In operation, all the recesses I4 in the respective disk gangs i9 are instraight lines. Movement of the implement along the plant rows 54 causesthe disks to cultivate the soil and cut all the plants with theexception of those coming within the aligned recesses lll, so that thecultivated rows leave plants 55 spaced at regular intervals.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

A plant blocker comprising frame means, said frame means including adraw member, a bar fixed to said member at right angles thereto,U-shaped frames rotatably secured to each end of said bar two disk gangsfor respectively cultivating plant rows to destroy excessive plants,each disk gang being rotatably mounted in a lJ-shaped frame andincluding a plurality of disk members having notches intersecting theircutting edges in equally spaced relation to each other, the disks ineach gang being arranged in the same order but reversed with respect tothe disks in the other gang, and means for adjusting the U-shaped framessupporting the two disk gangs.

RUDOLPH WILTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 467,400 Denney et al. Jan. 19,1892 514,209 Clark Feb. 6, 1894-. 529,457 Maul Nov. 20, 1894 920,929DeWald May 11, 1909 990,576 Markley Apr. 25, 1911 1,625,379 Sweeney Apr.19, 1927 2,373,716 Soucie Apr. 17, 1945

